Paint a Picture

Chapter 12

Miranda

I stand with my arms folded as I stare out my office window and look down at the city. The sun is setting and it is a beautiful sight. Someone knock softly on my door and I don't bother to turn around. The only one who is brave enough to enter my office at times like this is Austin. He comes in quietly and place a portfolio on the desk. Even though I wasn't facing him I knew that he was slowly turning around trying to not be noticed. "Have you heard from her?" I ask while still facing toward the huge windows.

"Yeah." He answers. "Yesterday." He swallows. "She is working on her final project."

"How is she doing?" I continue to question.

"Stressed." Austin admits honestly. "But. She's smart. I'm sure she's going to do great."

I nod my head. "Make sure she eats." I say. "She forgets about food when she's stress." I turn around and face him and Austin look shock that my attention is now on him. "And make sure she stays hydrated. Water doesn't exist when she is trying to stay awake. Only coffee and those deadly energy drinks."

"Of course." Austin nod his head. "I'll keep you posted."

I watch Austin disappear out of the office. I take a seat at my desk and begin to flip through the work he has left on my desk. I couldn't focus but I try my best to find the flaws and mistakes my idiotic interns has left. Sam and I haven't spoke for several days. I wanted to contact her but Nathalie told me it was best to give her space. She was angry and confused.

Sam had every right to be. But, I couldn't deal with the space. We were so close to being back together and something rip us apart yet again. However, I still had a company to run and I couldn't let the depression take over. I had to be strong for Sam and I. If she wanted space from me then that is what I will give her. I did disappear for three months.

I pack up my things when the stars begin to come out. I get into my car and drive to see the other light in my life. I park my car and walk into the building before signing in. Before I could turn the corner Piper is sprinting around the wall. "Randa! Randa!"

I bend down and her small arms tries to wrap me into a hug but I pull her in close and tight. She moves the wild strands from her face. "Randa." She pull at my arm as I stand.

"One moment sweetie." I say to her. She pouts but nod her head. I begin to speak to the woman that is in charge of Piper and her safety.

"She has to be back bright and early Sunday morning." She explains and then she hand over a small pad and I sign my name. "Behave Piper."

Piper waves her hand but she pull at my fingers again and say, "Randa. Randa." I laugh along with the other woman at Piper excitement. Piper and I walk towards the car door and I strap her into the car seat. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I haven't taken Piper out for a few days because I didn't want her to see the sadness in my eyes. But, I called her every night.

I had no choice but to suck it up when she told me on the phone that the mean older kids said I didn't love her anymore. I wanted to rush up there and threaten all of them but she said with confidence that she didn't believe them.

"....the snake was huge. The zoo keeper even let me pet it and all the others was scared but not me Randa. I was brave." She smile widely as she tell me her story about her trip to the zoo that I funded anonymously. She kick her legs and dig into her bookbag and pull out a piece of paper. "See look what I colored. It's for you."

I make a complete stop at the red light and grab the colorful paper. I glance at it and chuckle. "It's me and you and Sam and our future pet. His name Sitter because snakes can't stand." Piper explain. I laugh and take in my stick version of me with a colorful snake wrap around my legs with a huge smile on my face. I then see the other stick version with bright red hair standing next to me.

"It's beautiful sweetheart."

We finally make it to our destination and Piper scream in excitement noticing the home. "Sleepover?" She ask. I unbuckle her and help her out the car. We walk toward the front door and she bounce happily all the way there. Rose is the one to open the door with the twins behind her.

Lily and Delilah pull Piper in a hug before pulling her upstairs to show off their new toys. "Stop running." Rose scream. She bite into her sandwich and then make room for me to get into the cozy home. She shut the door behind me and explain, "Joy is not here. I'm in charge."

I arch my eyebrow and look her up and down. She's wearing nike shorts and a tshirt with a ketchup stain in the corner. "Clearly she couldn't find anymore with more responsibility."

Rose snort, "You're the one to talk. Psycho lover."

I clench my jaw and Rose pause before saying. "Too soon?"

I choose to ignore her and walk further into the house. There is a bag of chips on the table and the TV is on pause. I'm not sure what she is watching. I go into the kitchen and sit at the island before pulling out my laptop. I begin to work in silence and listen closely to the children running and playing upstairs.

Maybe a hour into working I decide to take a break. I walk into the living room and notice it was too quiet to be in a house of three small children. Rose is on the couch asleep. I kick at her feet and she fall off the couch. I roll my eyes. "Have you checked on the kids recently?"

"What kids?" Rose ask. She wipe her eyes and I give her a few minutes to catch up. I knew her brain was more sensitive than others. "They're in the playroom." She answer before sitting back on the couch and scrolling through phone.

"I hope you pay close attention to my future grandkids." I tell her with annoyance.

"What future grandkids?" She questions.

I roll my eyes. I make my way up the stairs and head towards the playroom that is in the attic. I could hear low whispers so I don't make much noise. I wanted to see what they was up too. "Don't cry." One of the twins say. It sounds like Delilah.

I walk up the small steps and open the door. Piper is sitting on the floor with tears in her eyes while Delilah is desperately trying to wipe off Piper arms.

"What is going on?" I ask making myself known.

Delilah jump in terror and Lily cover her ears as she look ahead in fear and Piper sit on the floor and cry in tears. Delilah look down at Piper and I repeat the question a second time. "What is going on?" I say with a stern tone.

Piper looks up with wet tears running down her face. "I didn't mean too."

"It's my fault." Delilah take the blame. "I wanted to be a tattoo artist like Rose so I drew all over Piper arms but I didn't know it was mom special markers and it's permanent."

I pull the towel off Piper arm and it's bright colors of elephants, snakes, and monkeys on her arm. I toss the wet towel to the side. "Come on." I pull Piper on her two feet. I then look at all the other markers and paint on the floor. "Get this cleaned up." I tell the twins.

They move quickly and start to clean up. I run a hot bath and begin to bathe Piper. She sits in the water sadly and I get the permanent drawings off her arm. The art looked really good for a young child. Delilah was very intelligent for her age just as Lily however the two of them didn't have any drawing skills. Not like Piper.

This was Piper art.

I wash her hair quickly and grab a rubbing alcohol pad before running it over her skin gently but enough pressure to get the drawings off her skin. The both of us walk out the bathroom and downstairs. I can hear Joy voice as we get to the main floor. "What did I say about going through my things?" Joy hisses toward Delilah. "You are in big trouble young lady."

Piper wipe her eyes and she start to cry again but Delilah stand strong even though her eyes was watering slightly. "I'm sorry mom." Delilah say.

"Not this time. You can't go outside for a week. Only school and homework." Joy hisses. "Now clean your room and get ready for bed." She then look at Lily. "The both of you."

The twins run up the steps and toward their room.

"You're in trouble to young lady." I tell Piper. She nod her head and cry. "Go help them clean. It's time for bed."

Piper turns to move but then she turn back around slowly. "Joy." She hiccups with tears and snot. "It wasn't Delilah fault. I went in your room and took the markers. I'm sorry." She cries.

"Go clean." Joy demands. Piper nod her head and turn to go up the steps.

"What were you doing while they were in my room. They could have hurt themselves Rose. Those markers has heavy chemicals in them."

"I fell asleep. I thought Miranda was watching them."

"I left you to watch them." Joy roars.

I arch my eyebrow. I've never seen Joy so frustrated before.

"Can I trust you with anything?" Joy continues to say to Rose. "Please. Find some responsibility."

"I don't need this." Rose begin to grab her things.

"Joy it's okay. It was just markers." I say to her. Her face is beat red and she was shaking in anger.

Rose snorts but looks ahead in anger, "I'm guessing your stupid date didn't go well."

"Date?" I turn on Joy for more information.

"Yeah." Rose frown. "She left all giddy and made up and now you're taking your anger out on your kids."

Joy choose to ignore Rose. "I'm going to check on the kids." She disappears upstairs.

Rose roll her eyes, "God. She's so dramatic sometimes."

I furrow my eyes, "Who did she go on a date with?"

Rose shrug her shoulders, "I don't know."

"You do know." I arch my eyebrow. "You wouldn't let her go off with a stranger without knowing who they are and if she didn't tell you willingly. You found a way to find out."

"So." Rose again shrug her shoulders. "It's none of your business. Remember lately you've been nothing but bad luck."

For some reason that hit me more than I expected. Rose catches herself and say, "Damn. I'm sorry. Look. When Joy is upset I'm upset but let her handle it." She grab her keys off the table. "See ya."

I think over Rose words and sit on the couch. I unlock my phone and begin to look at old pictures of me and Sam. I sigh annoyed.

It's late when Joy come downstairs. She take a seat on the couch and fold her feet underneath her body. All her makeup is gone and her hair is damp from her shower.

"Who did you go on a date with?" I ask her. "Why didn't you tell me."

"It doesn't matter. It was a disaster." Joy chew on her bottom lip. "I thought getting back out there would be good but I was stupid to think that."

"Want to talk about it?" I ask her.

Joy yawn in her hand. "Not tonight. I think I should sleep it off. Goodnight, Miranda." She then chuckle, "The twins and Piper is trouble huh."

"Yes." I laugh with her. "But. Good trouble."

[][]

Someone knocking on the door the next morning wake me from my slumber. I hurry and throw a silk night robe around my body. I walk down the cold wooden steps forgetting my slippers. I open my the door without looking through the peep hole. "What?" I say with a attitude because it was too early this saturday morning for anyone to be knocking on the door.

I'm shock to see that it is Diane but deep down I should have known. I noticed she and Joy connection from the first time the two of them met. Diane look me up and down in confusion. "Either the two of you are roommates or Joy moves on quick."

I roll my eyes, "What are you doing here?"

Diane arch my eyebrow. "Umm." She presents a dark blue jacket. "Joy left this is my car. I wanted to return it."

"I can see that." I respond. There is still bite in my tone. I'm not sure what happened on the date last night to have Joy as upset as she was but it wasn't any my business so I didn't push for information. "Hand it over." I tell Diane instead.

The beautiful artist arch her eyebrow and say, "I rather give it to her myself."

"Well. She's asleep and won't be up soon." I fold my arms and lean on one hip while crossing my arms. "She came home upset so how do I know she even want to see you."

Diane look away embarrassed. "It was a misunderstanding. All I want to do is explain myself."

I could see Diane was desperate and I couldn't help myself. "Come in." I sigh. Diane gives me a charming smile and I roll my eyes and shut the door behind her. "Sit here." I demand. I then disappear upstairs and walk into Joy room. She's buried underneath her sheets and I shake her awake.

"Lily it's too early. Just get in the bed." She mumbles.

"It's Miranda." I say.

"Just get in the bed." She tells me. "The nightmares will stop."

I sigh and roll my eyes. I shake her again. She open her eyes and I explain, "Your disaster date is downstairs."

"What?" She lifts up quickly.

"She wanted to return your jacket." I say in a dull tone. "And also explain herself."

"I don't want to talk to her." Joy say.

"She won't leave until she returns your jacket personally." I explain. I then turn and go through her closet. Joy is wearing a huge tshirt to bed but I grab one of her sexy night gowns and toss it to her. "Change." I tell her.

She change quickly and I run my fingers through her bed hair. I then push her out the door and down the stairs. "I'll get the girls ready."

I don't get the girls ready. I eavesdrop and listen in closely and Diane is the first to speak, "Here is your jacket."

Joy grab the jacket tentatively and say, "Thanks."

Before Joy could say anything else. Diane begins to speak. "I'm sorry about last night. Holly was unfair. She shouldn't have told you those things. She wanted to get back at me but she hurt you in the process and embarrassed you."

Joy shifts and clench her jaw.

Diane step forward and grab Joy hand, "You have every right to be upset with me. But, please let me make it up to you."

"I'll think about it." Joy remove her hand and pick up her jacket.

Diane nod her head. "I'll call you." She say and then move to walk out the front door.

I choose that moment to come down the stairs and Joy look at me and frown, "I thought you said you were going to get the girls ready."

"Who is this Holly and how did she embarrassed you?" I ask ignoring Joy.

Joy roll her eyes and we both move into the kitchen. Joy begin to grab pans and start breakfast. "Everything was going really good. Perfect actually. Diane disappears to go us more drinks. While she was gone a random woman approached our table and she says I must be the new project. She tells me how Diane lead her on only to leave to her."

Joy crack the eggs into the pan and it sizzles. "I tried my best to defend Diane. I told her that the two of us were just friends and whatever she and Diane went through didn't have anything to do with me. Well, Holly wouldn't give up and she started to name all these places Diane took her to made her feel special. Everyone attention is on us at this point and Diane finally returns. Diane and Holly exchange words and I choose to get up and leave."

I sip my coffee and listen closely. "Well. That's not Diane fault. She's a beautiful woman. There will be plenty jealous women."

"I understand that." Joy replies. "I don't care about her past women."

"Then what is the problem?" I ask.

"All the places she took Holly are the same exact places she took me." Joy frown. "It is only a game for Diane and I refuse to be apart of it."

Before I could say anything more the twins and Piper is running into the kitchen with their pajamas still on and their bed hair swinging wildly as they run. Joy continues to cook and I open my laptop and continue my work from last night.

[][]

I spend the rest of the weekend at Joy place. We take the twins and Piper to the adventure park. Sunday morning I return Piper she cries all the way back. She doesn't want to go back. It's hard and it almost make me cry. I stop the truck and she screams with tears, "I wanna stay with you Randa. Please."

I get out of the truck and open the door. She wipe her face and say, "Please. I'll be good."

I run my fingers through her hair. "I know sweetie but I have to obey the rules. I want to keep you so badly but all the papers have to process." Piper pulls me in a hug and I hug her back. She cries into my shirt. "I'll call you every night. I promise." I then pull back. "Then next Friday I'll come and get you again at the same time."

Piper sniffs, "Okay."

I help Piper out the car and we walk into the building together. The nice woman take her away from me again and I almost break down right there in the middle of the hall. I wave at Piper with a huge smile on my face desperately trying to ignore the stabbing pain in my chest.

"How long does this process usually takes?" I question.

"It can take months..."

"Months?" I hiss. "I can't continue to do her like this. It's hurting her."

"I know." The woman explain. "But, this is how the system work. Your papers is in a pile with others and sometimes it takes time to run background checks..."

"How much?" I cut her off.

"How much?" She cock her head to the side in confusion.

"How much will it take to get my papers pushed to the top of the pile?"

"I can't..."

"You're useless!" I scowl. I then turn and storm away. I drive with anger in my bones. I needed to speak to someone with more power.

I drive and drive and don't even notice until the last moment that I'm heading to Sam place. I don't stop but turn off the car and head up to her apartment. I knock on the door and Tessa is the one to open it.

I immediately frown my mood going from angry to pissed. "Where is Sam?" I question.

"Not here." She say. "She's gone."

I huff. I didn't have time for games. "Where is Nathalie?"

I step through the door and Tessa step to the side. I walk down the hall and look into Sam bedroom to see that she is gone. I also notice something is different about her room. Things are missing. Things she usually take when she's leaving for a while. I walk into the bathroom and notice her toothbrush is gone. I open her closet door and notice her traveling bag is gone.

"Where is Sam?" I ask again noticing Tessa presence in the room.

"As I said." Tessa chuckles and take a seat on Sam bed. "She's gone."

I arch my eyebrow in confusion. Tessa didn't look so confident as she usually did and she had a bruise on her cheek.

"What happened?" I hiss.

"I couldn't convince her to get with me but I can live with the fact that she will never be yours anymore?" Tessa chuckles and I clench my jaw and scowl, "Get up and get out. Now!"

"Okay okay, mom." Tessa laughs. She grab her keys and head for the front door. I push her out and slam the door behind her. I open my phone and scroll through the contacts. I call Sam first but she doesn't answer. Then Nathalie but she doesn't answer either. I open the door and Tessa look at me oddly.

"Where did they go?" I frown.

Tessa laughs. "This is the thing. Sam has been keeping this huge secret away from you."

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

"She has a interview to get a job right after graduation."

"That's not a secret idiot." I roll my eyes.

"It is when it includes a plane ticket to the Ireland." Tessa chuckles. My face goes from anger to complete shock. "Let me help you. She pulls out a piece of paper and writes something down. This is the restaurant she will be at tonight. Better make it quick.." She winks. "Goodbye Miranda. This was fun."

Tessa disappears and leave me in the hall alone.